Central Med migrant crossings double

The number of migrant crossings through the central Mediterranean to the European Union more than doubled in 2023 compared with the same period last year, the EU border agency Frontex says

NUMBER OF IRREGULAR BORDER-CROSSINGS (Jan-May 2023)

Route name
000 Number of incidents 
%   Percentage change from last year


Exits to UK
15,855
-9%

Eastern land border 
2,070 
-8%

Western Balkan 
30,717
-25%

Eastern Mediterranean
10,285
-35%

 
Western Africa 
4,329 
-47%

Western Mediterranean 
3,977 
-6%

Western Mediterranean 
50,318
158% 

Mediterranean Sea

Total number of entries: 102,000, a 12% increase over a year ago

Central Mediterranean remains main migratory route into EU, accounting for nearly half of all entries in 2023

Sources: Frontex, AFP
Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS